LOS ANGELES — Brad Richardson assisted on the game-winning goal by Michal Handzus in the third period and made one solid play after another while Jonathan Quick was stellar in goal, stopping 26 shots, the two combining to lead the Los Angeles Kings to a 2-1 victory over the Alexander Ovechkin-led Washington Capitals in front of a sell-out crowd of 18,118 fans during a matinee affair at Staples Center on January 2.

The Kings dominated the first period, which ended with Kings left wing Ryan Smyth opening the scoring on the power play with his eleventh goal of the season at the 19:01 mark.

The Capitals took over control of the game in the second, putting the Kings way back on their heels. But on the strength of Quick’s play in goal, the Caps scored just once on a power play goal by defenseman Mike Green at 2:13.

The Caps poured it on in the third period, outshooting the Kings, 10-5 in the period. But after taking a big hit from Ovechkin behind the Washington net with the Caps on the power play, Richardson managed to stay on his feet while the Capitals stood around in amazement. Meanwhile, Richardson got the puck and passed to Handzus, who was all alone in front and he scored his ninth goal of the season shorthanded at the 2:50 mark.

NOTES

This was the Kings’ third straight sell-out (sixth overall this season).

The Kings are 6-1-1 in their last eight home games.

The Kings have killed 32 of their last 36 penalties in the last nine games (88.9 percent). They have also killed thirteen of their last fourteen penalties.

This was only the third time Washington has been held to fewer than two goals.

Handzus scored his sixteenth career shorthanded goal (his fifth with the Kings).

Handzus now has four game-winning goals this season (he had four last season as well).

Quick is 10-5-1 with a 2.28 goals-against average and has a .920 save percentage in his last sixteen games.

Richardson has seven points in the last seven games (two goals, five assists.

Ovechkin was on the ice for 26:47, but was held off the scoresheet. He was credited with seven shots on goal and missed the net on two shot attempts.

Kings defenseman Drew Doughty was matched up against Ovechkin’s line and led all players in ice time with 26:48. He recorded one assist on Smyth’s goal (center Anze Kopitar earned the first assist on the goal) and had three hits in the game.

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